
Photo by Kurt Moses
Dining room in the 2013 ASID Showcase Home / Photo by K...
When interior designers Bonnie Birnbaum and Keri Olson began to sketch their vision for the dining room, they agreed that they wanted a space that accentuated the home's original architecture, yet also created a light and airy dining room. "Though we loved the original woodwork, it was challenging in that it made the room so dark and masculine," says Olson. "Our solution was to contrast the woodwork with a gorgeous plaster wall finish that looked like silvery silk," resulting in a stunning yet stuble ambiance that created the much desired "wow" factor. From the hand-painted chinoiserie on the walls and the homeowners' monogram on the backs of the side chairs to fresh flowers in the small bird vases at each table setting (a Bachman's find that quickly sold out due to popularity with the guests of the home), Birnbaum and Olson's attention to the smallest detail won the hearts of the visitors. "I believe people liked the space because our design did not obstruct the original detailing, yet brought the room into the present," says Birnbaum. "We had fun," adds Olson. "And I think that shows."